Tim Hodgson
Markham—Thornhill, Ontario · Liberal · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, while I know the Leader of the Opposition is not interested in working with the Prime Minister , here is who is: the Premier of Alberta, the Premier of Saskatchewan, the Premier of Ontario and the Premier of Nova Scotia. They are all conservatives, and they all want to work with us.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance is not the only person with good news. The Prime Minister today announced $5 billion of new investment in this country from Japan, Italy, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, France and Portugal. We are focused on bringing capital to this country and investment into this country to create jobs.”
“Mr. Speaker, while I know the member across does not want to help us build Canada, let us talk about who does want to help us build Canada. Today, we announced $5 billion in new investment from Japan, Italy, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, France and Portugal. They want to help us build. Why do the Conservatives not try and help build?”
“Mr. Speaker, the hon. member talks about critical minerals. I have good news. Today we found 13 new projects to invest in critical minerals, with $5 billion invested in Canada and in critical minerals from seven different allied countries. Maybe they should watch the news sometime.”
“Mr. Speaker, my colleague, the Minister of Finance , is not the only person who has good news today. I want to let members know that the 2,000 workers at Woodfibre LNG are working hard, and they will be producing new LNG in 2027. By the way, the 1,000 workers at Cedar LNG are also working hard, and they will be producing new LNG in 2028.”
“Mr. Speaker, I know they want to go back six years and re-fight an election from six years ago. Unfortunately, it is today, which is good for Canada. What we hear is the Premier of Alberta saying she has never been as optimistic about the country. We hear that from all of the premiers. They want to build with the government.”
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“Mr. Chair, I believe yesterday the value of natural gas closed on AECO-C at $1.01. Obviously, that is not how these projects work. They have long-term contracts and are set with suppliers, but we are focused on—”
“Mr. Chair, the member seems to be implying that by coming up with these sorts of numbers, it affects our ability to get projects done. I would like to let the member know I have built major projects throughout my career.”
“Mr. Chair, what this government is doing is focusing on getting this economy going again and retooling it and rebuilding it. We are focused on getting the one Canadian economy act. When we build these projects of national interest, it will put hundreds of thousands of Canadians to work. Good jobs, good pay—”
“Mr. Chair, one of the things we are doing is funding first nations communities that are interested in increasing their ownership in the forest products industry. We have seen first nations ownership in the industry increase meaningfully over the last several years, and we will continue to support that opportunity.”
“Mr. Chair, by passing the one Canadian economy act, we will build projects of major significance. We will support industries like the forest products industry. We will help them retool. We will provide them the liquidity support they need to deal with these unjustified tariffs. Since 2017, over $10 billion of duties have been collected against the forest products industry, an unjust and inappropriate duty that is inconsistent with the current free trade agreement. We will continue to support the forest products industry and help it through this unjust and unfair trade war.”
“Mr. Chair, the situation for our forest products industry is indeed challenging. As I have said in many of my comments, it is the canary in the coal mine. The forest products industry is currently on its fifth version of trade wars with the United States. We have contested this in adjudication, and we have won four times. They just keep coming back. We will support the forest products industry, but this is what Donald Trump is doing systematically across all of the economy today. We will provide, in these estimates, $1 billion of support for the forest products industry in terms of innovation, data collection, wildfire fighting and pest control.”
“Mr. Chair, the wildfires are a difficult situation today. We are going to give an update tomorrow. It is a very challenging situation. My thoughts are with all those impacted by wildfires. We will be there for Canadians. We have deployed the armed forces where the provinces have asked for them. We need to support our fellow Canadians. We have two threats right now to our way of life. We have climate change and we have American tariffs. We have to fight both. We have to fund both. This government is committing $1 billion in the estimates to the purchase of wildfire-fighting equipment and the training of wildfire fighters. That is what we are doing in the main estimates.”
“Mr. Chair, again, the Conservatives are looking backwards. We are looking forward. We are trying to pass the one Canadian economy act to accelerate and speed up projects. We really hope, if they are so interested in seeing projects—”
“Mr. Chair, again, we are looking forward. We have seen good development in the LNG sector, and with the one Canadian economy act, we will see even more. We are excited about it. We hope the member will join us.”
“Mr. Chair, let me tell the hon. member where I have been. I have been at organizations that have built roads, built ports, built transmission lines and built pipelines. We will do that. That is why I am here.”
“Mr. Chair, I am not going to talk about hypothetical projects. If a project comes forward with a proponent that is supported by first nations, we will run it through the process, and if it meets the process, it will get designated.”
“Mr. Chair, we will introduce a bill to get major projects built in Canada. Our government will rapidly advance projects of national interest and approve them within two years. We will build the strongest low-cost, low-risk, low-carbon economy in the G7.”
“Mr. Chair, the Prime Minister has been very clear that the projects would be approved from the federal government's perspective within two years or less. He has given those KPIs to all of the ministers. We understand that is what—”
“Mr. Chair, as soon as we get the one Canadian economy act passed, we will run it through the process and we will make that determination. We hope the members across the aisle will help us get that done so we can build the strongest economy in the G7.”
“Mr. Chair, the politicians do not pick the projects. The projects come up through a consultation between our government, the provincial governments, indigenous peoples and proponents. When those four groups come together to put a project together, it gets considered for national interest.”
“Mr. Chair, that is not what the Prime Minister and the premiers seem to think. They got together, and they thought this was a great idea. They laid out the five criteria, which are in the act. That is how we will get projects built. That is how we will make Canada an energy superpower.”
“Mr. Chair, under the one Canadian economy act, we would be developing a major projects office. That major projects office would accelerate the process of getting critical mineral projects approved within a two-year time frame. We will also be negotiating bilateral agreements with each of the provinces so we can have “one project, one review” processes. These would all accelerate the development of critical mineral processes.”
“Mr. Chair, there is money allocated in the main estimates to support capacity building on the part of first nations. We do that directly with particular first nations where there are critical mineral opportunities. We also do it in supporting a group called the First Nations Major Projects Coalition. It represents over 180 first nations. There are many specific critical mineral opportunities where the First Nations Major Projects Coalition is providing the capacity to negotiate strong ownership opportunities for first nations and accelerate the development of these critical mineral opportunities.”
“We intend to do this in a responsible way, in a sustainable way and in partnership with first nations. We are investing $3.8 billion in our critical minerals strategy to give us the hand that we need with the rest of the world.”
“Mr. Chair, critical minerals are a key part of this global challenge we are facing right now. We did not ask for the world's trading system to be changed. We did not ask for the end of the Bretton Woods era. We did not ask for a mercantilist world, but that is what we are in. The President of the United States seems to be very focused on critical minerals. We all watched what he did to Ukraine in the White House. Unlike a lot of countries, we have some very good cards. We have the critical minerals the world is looking for. We need to develop those critical minerals. We have critical minerals that will help with AI. They will help with power and clean technology, and they will help with climate change. We have the ability to support new mines, new refineries and new refining processes.”
“Mr. Chair, when we were together in Saskatoon with the Prime Minister and the premiers, we talked about many, many potential projects in the renewable space. I will highlight one in particular, the eastern energy partnership, which would involve up to 50 gigawatts, potentially, of offshore wind. That power would be used in conjunction with the incredible resources of Hydro-Québec and its dams, essentially turning the dams into large batteries. Those batteries would allow us to deliver more baseload power to other jurisdictions to earn more money for Canadians. They would facilitate the building of green hydrogen for our allies in Europe, which they are interested in—”
“Mr. Chair, in the private sector, I had the opportunity to build many projects with indigenous communities. The observation that I have is that when consultation is done well, it accelerates projects; it does not slow projects down. The company that I used to be involved with, Hydro One, was building more transmission lines in the province of Ontario than any other jurisdiction in North America. That was happening because of consultation and economic reconciliation, not in spite of it. The company was building projects and getting them done ahead of schedule and under budget because first nations wanted to partner with the company. Our bill is designed to make sure indigenous communities are part of the solution. By doing that, we would accelerate projects and get them done more quickly and more economically.”
“Trump, whether we are dealing with China or whether we are dealing with any other nation that has shifted from a post-Bretton Woods world to the mercantilist world we are in today.”
“Mr. Chair, we can all think back to Mr. Trump in the White House explaining to other leaders that they do not have any cards. In that card game, we have some really good cards. When the President says they do not need our lumber, our potash, our uranium and our autos, we know what Mr. Trump is really saying: They need our lumber, they need our uranium, they need our potash and they need our autos. We can make more good cards. This is all about preparing ourselves for a new world order. That is what the one Canadian economy act is designed to do. It is designed to identify projects of national interest that will retool our economy, grow our economy and give us the cards we need, whether we are dealing with Mr.”
“We need to be bold to deliver on the mandate that Canadians gave us. We need to build things in this country again. We need to secure our rightful place as a true conventional and clean energy superpower. I hope that this mission and every—”
“Canadian companies continue to face unjustified duties while exporting lumber to the U.S., impacting everyone from workers and home builders to consumers. While we continue to work toward a long-term resolution, these estimates support the forestry sector's innovation and transformation, so Canadian lumber and timber can be used to build for our ambitious new housing strategy and beyond. These estimates are about more than just spending; they are about investing in Canadians, their communities, their jobs and their future. (1955) They would deliver on our commitment to strengthen our sovereignty and advance environmental imperatives and reconciliation with indigenous peoples. They would drive innovation in every sector and put us squarely on the path to building the strongest economy in the G7.”
“This would include funding to deliver the critical minerals infrastructure fund, which would support the projects that will accelerate Canadian supply of critical minerals and allow us to process and refine here at home and build domestic and global value chains that compete in the 21st century. Further, we are earmarking nearly $196 million for the production and use of low-cost, low-risk, low-carbon fuels like advanced biofuels, hydrogen and renewable natural gas. Powering our vehicles, ships and industries with clean Canadian fuel helps reduce pollution, create export opportunities and secure our supply chain in a volatile world, keeping our economy competitive for today and tomorrow. Last, we are supporting a sector I have called “the canary in the coal mine” when it comes to the trade war in which we find ourselves: forestry.”
“These would go directly to Canadians, empowering them to upgrade their homes, making life more affordable, lowering energy bills, supporting cleaner construction and creating jobs in the construction sector. Next, we have earmarked more than $222 million for smart renewables and electrification pathway programs. These dollars would build projects that bring more clean, affordable, reliable power to Canadian communities. My experience in the private sector taught me that our grids are the backbone of Canadian energy security and industrial development, and we need to continue to boldly lead in the electricity sector. In the mining space, we know that Canada has the critical minerals the world needs, and we are stepping up to deliver. In these estimates, we are asking for $218 million to support mining production and infrastructure.”
“It is about building our backbone, not just for the next four years, but for the next 40 years, and ensuring that every Canadian is part of it. We will build new careers in the resource sector, including in the skilled trades. We will continue to work on reconciliation. We will help our allies break their dependence on less reliable suppliers and put Canadian expertise at the centre of the world's industrial, economic and environmental transformation. These estimates back up this vision with real investment. I want to highlight five of the bigger grants and contributions representing our commitment to Canadians in every community and sector. At the top are grants for home retrofits.”
“That is our mandate from Canadians, and we are united in that mission. This is for our sovereignty, economy and security. I also want to repeat something Premier Kinew said last Monday that deeply resonated with me: “It is a generational opportunity for Canadians, but it is also a generational opportunity for some of the poorest communities in our country.... If we can put the road, transmission and pipe infrastructure to build out those opportunities, this country is not just going to be better off in terms of the GDP growth; we are going to be better off in terms of making sure every Canadian kid can reach their full potential”. That is exactly what this session today, what our plan, through these estimates, is about.”
“We must ensure that these Canadian products reach global customers to get the best prices for Canadians. That is why these estimates put real resources behind diversifying our infrastructure and trading with those who share our values, not just our borders. (1950) Our third priority is partnership with indigenous peoples. These estimates support indigenous participation, partnership and ownership, notably through an expanded indigenous loan guarantee program, giving communities the ability to finance and benefit from major nation-building projects. These estimates are not just about overcoming today's challenges; they are about seizing tomorrow's opportunity. At last week's first ministers' meeting, the Prime Minister and every premier from coast to coast to coast made it clear that the time to build and secure our future is now.”
“It is the foundation of the actions we are taking to secure our nation's prosperity, resilience, security and leadership in the world for decades to come. It is how we will make Canada an energy superpower. At the core of NRCan's vision to make Canada an energy superpower are three intersecting priorities. First is regulatory efficiency: making it quicker and more predictable to get nation-building projects off the ground. Canadians have been clear: We cannot afford five-year reviews for projects that are critical to our economic, energy and environmental future. As someone who used to allocate capital, I can tell members that Canadians are right. The second priority is market diversification. In an era shaped by global competition and protectionism, it is not enough to simply produce world-class energy, minerals or timber.”
“We will defend our workers, our industries and our values, and we will build a new foundation, one that delivers the strongest, most resilient economy in the G7. That means reframing the national conversation: no more asking, “Why build?” The real question is, “How do we get it done?” Last week, we took a bold first step by tabling our “one Canadian economy” legislation, which will break apart barriers to internal trade and remove red tape so that we can advance national projects of interest. The legislation calls for us to do this responsibly from the very start, meeting our duty to consult and protecting our environment. This brings me to these estimates. What looks like numbers on a page is really our statement of intent for the coming year. Our plan is to deliver.”
“This is why the government is working with every province, territory and indigenous partner and reaching across the aisle with one goal: retool our economy and strengthen Canada's hand. Ultimately, though, this is not a card game. Jobs and livelihoods are at risk in every corner of this great country that those of us in this room have the honour to serve: from miners in Saskatchewan to forestry workers in British Columbia, from rigs in Alberta and Newfoundland to Ontario's plants and Quebec's factories. Business as usual no longer serves us well. We need to be bold and meet the moment. The Prime Minister has laid out a clear strategy. We will be masters in our own home. We will not bow to economic aggression.”
“Today, we are in what the Prime Minister calls a “hinge moment”. Global economies and markets are volatile. American tariffs are disrupting trade, threatening Canadian jobs and industry and rewriting the rules of the game. We did not ask for this trade war, but we are going to win it. To use the metaphor of a card game, if we are going to sit across the negotiating table from any other country, we need to hold Canada's best cards. That means being able to sell our energy and natural resources to the world and securing sovereignty and security for ourselves right here from coast to coast to coast. It means protecting our landscapes, making life more affordable, expanding our trading partners and modernizing our infrastructure.”
“Mr. Chair, hon. colleagues, it is an honour to rise in the House today, which is located on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe peoples, to discuss the 2025-26 main estimates for the Department of Natural Resources. Before I begin, I would like to acknowledge the firefighters, first responders, Canadian Armed Forces members and volunteers fighting wildfires and bravely serving Canadians, working tirelessly, often at great personal risk, to protect lives and property. In the estimates we are here today to discuss, Natural Resources Canada is seeking $5.1 billion, which is an 8% decrease from last year. At this pivotal time in Canadian history, these estimates are more than numbers on a ledger. I would like to zoom out and talk about the moment in which we find ourselves.”
“Mr. Chair, this discussion about major projects is about so much more than just one type of project; it is about building the strongest economy in the G7 and protecting Canada's prosperity in the face of the U.S.-launched trade wars. I would encourage the member to get on board with the one Canadian economy act.”
“Mr. Chair, we are not here to look backward; we are here to look forward. We have agreed to a plan with the premiers about how to get new projects built, new projects of national interest. There are five criteria for doing it. I am happy to lay them out for the hon. member. We will build the strongest economy in the G7.”
“Mr. Chair, Canada's new government will build projects of national interest. If my colleague would like to rapidly advance major projects in Quebec or other places, I encourage him to support the one Canadian economy bill.”
“Mr. Chair, in Saskatoon, the Prime Minister and the premiers came up with five criteria for developing projects of national interest. As those projects come forward, we will look at that opportunity and we will invest where it makes sense. I would like to draw the example of the natural gas industry, where a relatively small amount of—”
“Mr. Chair, I think the member is referring to the Pathways Alliance. This project will deliver tremendous emissions reductions in Canada's conventional oil sector. Canada's new government supports this carbon capture project as a way to spur innovation in the energy sector, lower emissions and strengthen our economy. We will fight climate change while building the strongest economy in the G7. It is with ambitious projects like this one that we will make Canada an energy superpower while lowering emissions.”
“Mr. Chair, in the global fight against climate change, we need to use all the tools we can get. Carbon capture technologies have an important role to play in reducing emissions, including in heavy industries like cement and steel. Carbon capture has been used around the world for a long time and works to reduce emissions. Our plan is clear: spur innovation in the energy sector, get projects built in a sustainable way and make Canada an energy superpower while fighting climate change.”
“Mr. Chair, the premise of the one Canadian economy act is that, together with the premiers, indigenous peoples and proponents, we would have a two-year window for the approval process. That two-year window would give the private sector the certainty it needs to put money to work to build projects of national interest.”
“Mr. Chair, in Saskatoon, the Prime Minister and the premiers got together and proposed five criteria for encouraging new projects of national interest. When the bill is passed, those five criteria will be used to get proponents to make proposals for projects of major interest.”
“Mr. Chair, we will always stand with forestry workers and defend the forestry sector. The Americans' current position hurts both Canadian and American businesses and increases the cost of wood products and homes in the United States. We will continue to work to resolve this issue with the Americans.”
“Mr. Chair, we are in our fifth version of a trade war with the Americans on forest products. Every time, the government has addressed the situation. We are in the process of discussing these things with the Americans right now. It is an ongoing discussion being led by the Minister of Industry . The hon. member should address his question to the Minister of Industry.”
“Mr. Chair, the Minister of Industry has spoken in the House about the ongoing negotiations around the softwood lumber situation. The hon. member will have an opportunity to debate that with the minister. It is a live, ongoing discussion; we are not going to talk about that in public.”
“Mr. Chair, the premise of the member's question seems to be that I am not familiar with how to get projects built. Let me assure the member that in my private sector life, I worked tirelessly in the forest products sector to build—”
“Mr. Chair, I have worked in the forestry sector for years and know how important the sector is to families and communities across this country. The American tariffs on our softwood lumber industry hurt both our countries and are completely unjustified. As we fight the American tariffs, we will diversify trading partners and build resilience in our forestry sector to reduce reliance on the U.S.—”
“Mr. Speaker, Canada's new government will get projects built, create high-paying jobs and bring prosperity to Canadians. That is why we presented the one Canadian economy bill, which would rapidly advance projects of national interest. If my Conservative colleagues want to get projects built, they should support the bill.”